It has been a while since I posted last. And my last writing was some thoughts about whether there would be attempts to regulate Google in a way that is more traditional for media. I was struck today by a column today reporting that the EU was asked to regulate Google like other communication utilities. “Rivals: Google should be regulated like telcos and electricity companies”

This is a short distance from the rest of media regulation. “Electricity” regulation actually provided the public interest standard that was incorporated into communication law early in the last century. And after the Telecom Act of 1996, telcos have been acknowledged to have some first amendment rights, depending on their activities. What about Google? It is certainly a first amendment speaker. Regulating Google can stifle one of the greatest innovation engines in recent memory.

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